We denounce the arbitrary revocation of the conditional release of political prisoners José Daniel Ferrer García and Félix Navarro Rodríguez, released in January 2025 in the context of negotiations between the Cuban regime and the Vatican.
The Supreme People's Court announced on April 29 the revocation of the benefit, alleging that both sanctioned individuals "failed to comply" with the conditions imposed during the probationary period, according to confirmed The official website Las Razones de Cuba.
The Vice President of the Supreme People's Court, Maricela Sosa Ravelo, declared that "the criminal chambers of the provincial people's courts of Matanzas and Santiago de Cuba revoked the conditional release of two sanctioned individuals, from the group of 553, who failed to comply with the provisions of the law during the probationary period to which they were subject.".
In the case of Félix Navarro Rodríguez, released on January 18, the court maintains that he violated the terms of his parole by leaving his municipality seven times without the required judicial authorization. Regarding José Daniel Ferrer García, released on January 16, authorities allege that he failed to appear at two official hearings before the judge overseeing his sentence and that he publicly declared his refusal to comply with the imposed conditions.
The statement also notes that both sanctioned individuals “publicly incite disorder and disrespect toward authorities in their social and digital environments, and maintain public ties with the chargé d'affaires of the United States Embassy in Cuba.” While clarifying that this conduct is not directly related to the revocation of their parole, the statement warns that it could lead to future investigations, thus opening the possibility of new criminal charges being brought against them.
On Tuesday morning, April 29, José Daniel Ferrer García, coordinator of the Patriotic Union of Cuba (UNPACU), was arrested during a State Security operation at the organization's headquarters in the Altamira neighborhood of Santiago de Cuba. His wife, Nelva Ismarays Ortega, his young son, and activists Roilán Zárraga Ferrer and Fernando González Vaillant were also detained during the operation. Their whereabouts remain unknown.
Also in the early morning hours, Félix Navarro Rodríguez, founder and coordinator of the Pedro Luis Boitel Party for Democracy, was arrested. According to reports sent to Cubalex, State Security deployed a large police operation at his home. Navarro was arrested around 6:00 a.m. as he was preparing to leave with his wife, Sonia Álvarez, a member of the Ladies in White, to visit their daughter, political prisoner Sayli Navarro.
Although the authorities attempt to justify the arrests by alleging supposed “non-compliance” with legal formalities, the official narrative itself reveals the true objective: to punish the peaceful activism of both opposition leaders. Since their release, José Daniel Ferrer and Félix Navarro have been subjected to constant harassment, systematic arbitrary arrests, and ongoing pressure with the threat of being returned to prison.
Cubalex denounces:
-The arbitrary use of the law as a tool of political persecution to silence critical voices.
-The lack of judicial guarantees for those who exercise their fundamental rights.
-The persistence of state repression against peaceful activism in Cuba.
We urgently call upon the international community, human rights organizations, and civil society to raise their voices, expose these abuses, and demand that the Cuban regime fully respect human rights.
We demand the immediate release of José Daniel Ferrer García, Félix Navarro Rodríguez and all people detained in Cuba for exercising their fundamental rights.